Henderson-Massey Local Board I Te Poari ā-Rohe o Henderson-Massey

Turn Te Atatu Peninsula into a model neighbourhood for walking and cycling

It's simple: 30km/hr speed limit on all but arterials, and build continuous cycle lanes on all arterials (aka the Bike Te Atatu plan - cf biketeatatu.org.nz/our-proposal/). This submission was initially sent to the local board 5 years ago, it's time to act now.

Community gardens is a good concept but with trivial real-life outcomes. I want to see fenced-in social allotments with built-in training.

Volunteering in a new "normal" needs support

COVID-19 has changed the volunteering landscape. The likely scenario for NGOs reliant on volunteers will be a short fall of people unable to volunteer as in pre-COVID days. With seniors [over 65yrs] being the back bone of many of our volunteer activities in the community now unable [unwilling through health fears?] to undertake their usual roles, this will leave a big gap in the ability of NGOs to deliver services at pre-COVID levels. An increasing number of people will also be subsisting on a much reduced income will be accessing community services in larger numbers and the community groups stepping up to support them will need additional people to support the delivery of those needs – these are generally volunteers. The increasing numbers of unemployed people will also be looking to contribute, retrain and wanting to ensure their own good mental health will need support in sourcing community voluntary activities that will best meet their needs. We need to support our community organisations to relook at their volunteer involving programmes and practices, how they recruit, support, identify and allocate voluntary tasks, ensuring the health and wellbeing of both the recipients and the volunteers. Volunteering Auckland is well placed to support the volunteering needs of both the person looking to contribute and those community groups needing support in their volunteer engagement processes and practices. Our database can also track referrals to needs by suburb and by local board. We are able to operate regionally and virtually. Volunteering will increasingly become a way to ensure a resilient community.

Help make the cycleway safer

Unfortunately I know of too many accidents and near misses that have happened on the cycleway (specifically the section between te atatu and Lincoln road). I would love to see more signage and road markings telling the community to keep left and to not overtake on blind corners. There are really good signs on the rainbow path in point chevalier that could be replicated.

Implement the Henderson-Massey Connections Plan (August 2019)

Make it safe and inviting to walk and cycle around the Henderson-Massey board rohe, improving parks and transport options across Westgate, Royal Heights, Massey, West Harbour, Te Atatu Peninsula, Te Atatu South, Birdwood, Ranui, Sturges, Lincoln, Henderson, Western Heights, Sunnyvale and Glendene. This plan lays out exactly how to make our neighbourhoods less car-centric and more people friendly. We just need to action it!